Amber Duncan – Serial Entrepreneur & CEO of Shop Jackie

June 9, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Both Amber and her husband were mortgage brokers when the bottom dropped out of the real estate market. Overnight, she found herself pregnant with her fifth child and standing in line for WIC government benefits to maintain food and nutrition for her family.

Fast forward to today, Amber Duncan now owns 17 companies including a debt consolidation company, Reduce My Debts, two Gigi’s Cupcakes franchises and Shop Jackie, a high-end personal shopping experience for women, delivered right to your front door.

In this episode, Jackie explains how you can connect with a customer and why it’s the most important aspect of being successful in business. She also reveals some of her best leadership tips and shares why you should never wait for perfection.

Listen in to this episode to find out how to grow a new business, ways to increase your business’s visibility, and how Shop Jackie works.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Everything that I’ve done has been born out of failure.” – Amber Duncan

Show Notes:

How Shop Jackie was started out of Amber’s FRUSTRATION
Where the name JACKIE came from – love this story & reminds me of my Mom!
How Amber is DISRUPTING the online personal styling industry making it BOTH scalable & personal
Amber went from college dropout to owning 17 businesses
Simple strategies on how Amber went from “broke, eating Mac n’ Cheese every day” to wildly successful
Her Go-To Action Step that she takes every day to keep her ALIGNED as a wife, mother to five and entrepreneur
Her Superpower
Her ADVICE on what you need to know when you get started – PURE GOLD and it’s just ONE Word.

I don’t get stuck, I turn quickly.” – Amber Duncan

Connect with Amber Duncan:

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Reduce My Debts| Shop Jackie

Investing in yourself is the best investment you can make.” – Amber Duncan

Elise Rosenstock – From The Kitchen Table in Cleveland to 1M on QVC

May 26, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Today’s remarkable guest, Elise Rosenstock, started her jewelry business over 20 years ago at her kitchen table with only $300 (she confesses it was her “date night” money). Now, Elyse Ryan Jewelry is in big brand stores across the country from Saks to Bloomingdales to QVC and HSN. She’s using her successes to make a lasting impact in the lives of those around her.

Elise shares a great story about why she’s affectionately been called “The Lemonade Stand Lady” and insists she has found success in trusting that people just want access to the real you.

Listen in to today’s episode as Elise talks about the two things you need to grow, how to go from the kitchen table to a manufacturer, and why reinvention is so popular.

To snag a 15% discount on any of Elise’s fabulous jewelry, our listeners can use the code ‘MOXIE‘ at checkout on her website.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

I had the sales and marketing in my blood, but I had to be able to do it in a way that people were going to believe in me and my product.” – Elise Rosenstock

Show Notes:

How she went from her kitchen table to big brands SAKS, Bloomingdales, QVC & HSN
Simple, easy tips (anyone can do it) on how she grew visibility for her jewelry line
How she raised over 1M on QVC and became known as “The Lemonade Stand Lady”
The most challenging aspect of being a business owner – CONTROL
The ONE Thing you should always pay close attention to
The KEY to staying in business for the long-term
Her ADVICE on how she gets through those really tough days
Details on her new line, “WRISTROCKS”
And much, much more…

If you have an idea, don’t expect it to happen overnight.” – Elise Rosenstock

Connect with Elise Rosenstock:

Facebook | Instagram | QVC | ElyseRyan

Surround yourself with mom-preneurs. I do that every day.” – Elise Rosenstock

Coco Meers & Marcy Vermillion – Introducing Women to the Power of CBD

April 28, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Marcy Vermillion had an unfortunate kayaking accident that, at age 32, left her unable to even walk her dog. This led her on a journey to the healing effects of CBD. Once she shared it with her good friend Coco Meers, Equilbria was born.

Coco and Marcy both sold their tech ventures realizing they were on to something for women. Now they are ready to introduce their premium, farm-fresh, full-spectrum CBD products to women across the globe. They have a unique approach; they offer something called Dosage Specialist Support to potential clients who aren’t sure where to begin or which products will best suit them.

In today’s episode, they share their biggest hurdle when building their business, the “three chains” in building a business, and their best steps to grow the brand. They also share advice that they often hear in the startup world that they disagree with, how to be comfortable knowing what you don’t know, and what should you plan for when things don’t go well.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

We’re so passionate about what cannabis and CBD can do for women and for women’s health, but it is not a one-size-fits-all.” – Coco Meers

Show Notes:

A step-by-step (think paint-by-number) explanation on WHY CBD is so healing for women
A HUGE challenge that COST them their Recurring Revenue (and how they overcame it!)
The “Three Chains” in Building a Successful Business
How Coco and Marcy went from Tech to CBD
ADVICE they hear in the start-up arena that is highly MISLEADING for Founders
How to determine what dose of CBD is right for you
WHY Daily Drops has become such a GENIUS product for Equilbria
Where they Find their Joy

CBD and women are such a perfect pair.” – Marcy Vermillion

Connect with Coco Meers and Marcy Vermillion:

Facebook | Instagram | Equilibria

At Equilibria we are owners of our own farm, so we can trace our batch and lot number all the way down to the genetics and the farmer who picked it.” – Coco Meers

Charlene Simon – The Art of Juggling Soaps, Cosmetics & Cupcakes

April 14, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

She left school at 15 and had her three children by the time she was 20.

Today Charlene Simon is the real definition of a “serial” entrepreneur. She’s the CEO & Founder of three successful brands: Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium, Fat Bottom Girl’s Cupcakes and Villainess Beauty.

It all started in San Diego in 2000 when Charlene walked into a soap shop that had real, live, breathing goats out back. She was mesmerized. She spent hours in the local library teaching herself the chemistry of soap making.

In 2009 (not a great year for the economy), she remembered her boss saying once, “You have to strike on real estate in a recession.” So she took $700 (all the money she had) and she went for it. She opened her first Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium.

It’s been a wild ride and one that continues to spiral upward for this straight-talking entrepreneur who makes all her decisions on “feelings.”

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

“The fear is fuel.” – Charlene Simon

Show Notes:

Why starting a business in a RECESSION was her BIG Break (it was the perfect time)
Why FEELINGS matter most to her when making decisions (she needs to feel the JOY)
Why CUPCAKE WARS kept calling her to be a contestant on the show – it had to do with a T-Shirt
Her Most DIFFICULT Business Moment – (two blocks down the street)
GENIUS Advice on how to handle COMPETITION
Her “BUFFET” Analogy (what are you hungry for?)
TIPS on Dealing with CRITICISM
And much, much more!

“Competition is nothing; I don’t even look at other people.” – Charlene Simon

Connect with Charlene Simon:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium

“If it doesn’t bring me joy, I know not to touch it.” – Charlene Simon

Wendi Weiner – The journey From a Lucrative Career as a Lawyer to Becoming The Writing Guru

March 24, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Wendi Weiner was well established as an attorney earning a significant income but her true passion was writing. Her parents even nick-named her, “The Writing Guru.” She started a side hustle of writing even though she was putting in 50-60 hours a week as a lawyer. It turned out to be a very good decision.

Fast forward to today: Wendi has been featured in over 75 media outlets — from CNBC to CNN and The Huffington Post — as a leading authority in personal branding, social storytelling, career strategy, and the job search process. Her business, The Writing Guru, provides corporate branding services to Fortune 25 companies and she regularly gives talks on topics ranging from personal branding to resume writing, reputation management, and social networking. She believes that if we want to have our own business doing something we love, we have to change our mindset about time. We don’t work nine to five. We work whenever.

In today’s episode, Wendi shares how to balance your full-time job with your side hustle, the secret to getting media coverage, and how to become a household name.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

The personal fulfillment drives my passion, which is something that people see when they talk to me.” – Wendi Weiner

Show Notes:

How it felt to get her “Carrie Bradshaw moment”
WHY it’s good to listen to your Mom
How attending a conference led to her “LIGHT-BULB” moment
What it really takes to go from SIDE HUSTLE to a successful six-figure business
How to align your full-time job with your side hustle
The secret for getting media coverage (Wendi has been featured over 75 MEDIA Outlets!)
The most important action step for new entrepreneurs
How to become a household name in your industry
Her “Non-Negotiable” Daily Ritual
The most difficult part of entrepreneurship
How she adjusted having her hubby “come home” to work during the Pandemic (I could relate so much to her story here!)
Her best ADVICE on how to move through the really difficult days
Where she Finds her JOY

Your business and style are going to evolve over time. Don’t be afraid of it.” – Wendi Weiner

Connect with Wendi Weiner:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | The Writing Guru

The amount of work I generate in a day probably can’t be done by a lot of people.” – Wendi Weiner

Jesse Draper Unplugged – Getting Real About What it Takes to Succeed With The CEO & Founder of Halogen Ventures

February 24, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Jesse Draper is back for an encore! She was on the podcast back in 2018 and this time I had the pleasure of sharing her wisdom with the members of my private, online membership community, ALIGN online. It was SO good. I’m calling it, “Jesse Draper Unplugged.” She’s just raised $21M to invest in the next generation of female-founded businesses and on this episode, she takes a deep dive with us!

Jesse started her career in the entertainment industry and along the way discovered she had a “superpower” or maybe it was “x-ray vision” when it comes to knowing what it takes to be a winning idea in business. She started focusing on building an early stage venture capital fund focused on female-founded consumer technologies, which led to the creation of Halogen Ventures.

Jesse talks how she found her footing in the venture capital world, her best tips on pitching ideas to investors, the importance of insane optimism, and why you should always ask for feedback.

If you’re looking for investors or bootstrapping, this episode is for you.

You can be what you can see.” – Jesse Draper

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

For women, we are taught to give away money before we are taught to take risk with our money and that’s a problem.” – Jesse Draper

Show Notes:

How Jesse went from the entertainment industry to the venture capital world
Everyone suffers from Imposter Syndrome and why you need to just keep going
Her Insider “SECRETS” on pitching investors – PURE GOLD!
Why Jesse decided to focus on female-founders and her perspective on female-founder disruptors
3 Must-Haves she looks for before giving the Green Light
The BIGGEST challenge for female founders (and her expert advice on how to overcome it)
Why asking for FEEDBACK is key
The Type of LEADER you have to become to succeed – BRILLIANT
The Essential ingredient to every business (you may be surprised!)

Bootstrap as long as you can.” – Jesse Draper

Connect with Jesse Draper:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Halogen Ventures

You can’t do anything alone.” – Jesse Draper

Melissa Vitelli – From Fashion Photographer to Co-founder & CEO of Jar Goods

February 17, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest, Melissa Vitelli, had a successful career in fashion photography but she found her herself being drawn to the food industry through her hobby of vegetable gardening. She joined together with her sister-in-law Lauren and Jar Goods was born. They initially found success at Farmer’s Markets and this led them directly into the arms of Whole Foods.

On today’s show, Melissa talks about how she and her sister-in-law decided to take her father-in-law’s famous tomato sauce recipe and turn it into a thriving business. She shares how she brought her small side business into grocery stores across the country, some of her most pivotal moments as an entrepreneur, how she’s dealt with the challenges of entrepreneurship and more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

People who need quick foods, should not be relegated to low quality.” – Melissa Vitelli

Show Notes:

What it was like to move from Fashion photography to the FOOD industry
How their decision to go with mom-and-pop stores first before hitting the Big Guns of Whole Foods and AMAZON paid off
Why beginning in FARMERS MARKETS was their Golden Ticket
WHEN she realized she was on to something with her business
The moment she decided to add more flavors to the mix – she shares it’s the key to creating a BRAND Block
She’s learned it’s all about being CONSUMER CENTRIC
Her experience at the CHOBANI Food Incubator
Why Jar Goods decided to try a subscription model
Her perspective on why you shouldn’t listen to other people’s ADVICE
Where she Finds her Joy
And much, much morel

In order to do it, it doesn’t matter what industry, you have to be very risk tolerant.” – Melissa Vitelli

Connect with Melissa Vitelli:

Facebook | Instagram | Jar Goods

The creative juices are not going to flow if you force them.” – Melissa Vitelli

Jennifer Saxton – Founder & CEO, Tot Squad, From Cleaning Dirty Car Seats to Partnering With Walmart and Amazon

February 3, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

From cleaning dirty car seats to partnering with Walmart and Amazon, she’s out to revolutionize the Baby Registry Business. It all started with cleaning dirty (Eew..) car seats.

My guest Today, Jennifer Saxton, is zeroed in on the millennial mindset. “They don’t want more ‘stuff,’ they want more help, more experiences.”

With that knowledge, she created Tot Squad, a business that connects parents with the experts they need from pregnancy until early childhood.

It all started with Jennifer driving around in a van cleaning dirty car seats and today, she’s expanded the business locking arms with giants such as Walmart and Amazon.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Finding the right people on your team is always the hardest part.” – Jennifer Saxton

Show Notes:

How Jennifer honed in on what millennials VALUE Most and created a business around it
How she CONVINCED retailers not to take a cut of her profits (Brilliant)
How Tot Squad changed, emerged and EXPANDED as Jennifer became a mother
Jennifer’s mentality on getting into stores and why that was a WIN-WIN for everyone
What it was like for a slice of Tot Squad to get ACQUIRED during the Pandemic
The incident that left her on the side of the road IN TEARS
How her LEADERSHIP style has evolved
Her advice on WHY you should keep your DAY JOB (PURE Gold)
The advice she wished she would have had on her FIRST DAY as an entrepreneur

When you’re an entrepreneur you can’t work this hard if you don’t like the people that you work with and you don’t like what you’re doing.” – Jennifer Saxton

Connect with Jennifer Saxton:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tot Squad

With my team, I really focus on honing in on what your strengths are.” – Jennifer Saxton

Emily Groden – How Watching a Netflix Food Show Led This Attorney Away From The Courtroom & Into The Kitchen

January 20, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Emily Groden, Founder & CEO of Evergreen, typically worked late at her law office in Chicago most nights, however, one evening she found herself at home watching a food show on Netflix.

What happened next changed the entire course of her career…and it involved sending a “cold” email to someone.

Fast forward to today, Evergreen, launched in early March 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, and is now in more than 49 Whole Foods locations in the Midwest, as well as many other Midwest stores.

On today’s show, Emily tells us all about her emotional journey of being in a start-up, why she started to distrust processed food, and how the show Chef’s Table changed her life. She talks about the importance of endurance, how her professional swimming background helped her in her life, and much more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

I feel really lucky to have worked in a start-up environment prior to starting Evergreen myself.” – Emily Groden

Show Notes:

The story of how a late night “COLD” email changed her career trajectory
Why you should pay attention to CLUES (she had them along the way but ignored them)
The QUESTION you need to ask yourself before every business move
The story of the LAUNCH moment (a paper bag, paper plates, utensils and her toaster)
The QUICK decision she made when ALL Manufacturers said “NO”
Simple, NO-COST Tips on gaining Brand Awareness in a Start-up
How she gets through the really tough days – she shares the “Emotional Journey U”
Her Best ADVICE on just getting started (it involves a homemade jam story)

Building a start-up business is not a sprint, is a marathon.” – Emily Groden

Connect with Emily Groden:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Evergreen

Define your principles on day one and then stick to them.” – Emily Groden

Jean Freeman – CEO of Zambezi & One of the Biggest Female-Owned Businesses in Los Angeles

December 2, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Jean Freeman is at the helm of one of the largest certified female-owned advertising agencies AND one of the biggest female-owned businesses in Los Angeles.

Jean has turned Zambezi into a thriving advertising agency with a revenue of projected 75 million dollars. She’s also become a leading advocate for the advancement of women in business.

On today’s show, Jean is going to share what being a CEO in a busy city like LA really means, her best productivity tips, how she manages a growing business while being a mom to two children under the age of 13, the importance of creating a sustainable business, and her criteria for decision-making in her business. She also talks about her business experience with NBA legend Kobe Bryant and the moment she was named a “Working Mother of the Year” by She Runs It!

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

In women’s entrepreneurship, we get to rewrite the rules of entrepreneurs.” – Jean Freeman

Show Notes:

Her business partnership with NBA legend Kobe Bryant
Why Corporate America does not support the needs of women in the workforce
How entrepreneurship runs in Jean’s family and what she has learned
The moment she recognized she was on to something with Zambezi
The benefits that come about when kids see their parents working
Tips on creating a sustainable business
The BEST strategy is always Actionable
Her advice on decision-making
Why Alignment is important in all aspects of business
And much, much moree

You are going to make some wrong calls, but that is ok, I think it’s more about how you respond to wrong calls.” – Jean Freeman

Connect with Jean Freeman:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Zambezi

Align yourself properly with the types of businesses that will be long-term partners.” – Jean Freeman

Amber Duncan – Serial Entrepreneur & CEO of Shop Jackie

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Amber Duncan:

Elise Rosenstock – From The Kitchen Table in Cleveland to 1M on QVC

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Elise Rosenstock:

Coco Meers & Marcy Vermillion – Introducing Women to the Power of CBD

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Coco Meers and Marcy Vermillion:

Charlene Simon – The Art of Juggling Soaps, Cosmetics & Cupcakes

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Charlene Simon:

Jesse Draper Unplugged – Getting Real About What it Takes to Succeed With The CEO & Founder of Halogen Ventures

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Jesse Draper:

Melissa Vitelli – From Fashion Photographer to Co-founder & CEO of Jar Goods

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Melissa Vitelli:

Jennifer Saxton – Founder & CEO, Tot Squad, From Cleaning Dirty Car Seats to Partnering With Walmart and Amazon

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Jennifer Saxton:

Emily Groden – How Watching a Netflix Food Show Led This Attorney Away From The Courtroom & Into The Kitchen

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Emily Groden:

Jean Freeman – CEO of Zambezi & One of the Biggest Female-Owned Businesses in Los Angeles

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Jean Freeman:

Strategy & Consulting

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We’d Love to Connect!